Razor blade sharpener



Nov. 28, 1944. J. A; DOLL RAZOR BLADE SHARFENER Filed May 27, 1942 Patented Nov. 28, 1944 it RAZORBLADE SHARPENER Jo e a. DolL Mineola, N. Y. Application May 27, 1942, Serial No. 444,614 4 Claims. (01. 51-59) This invention "relates to a razor blade sharpenerthat is particularly suitable for sharpening a double edgedsafety razor blade. l 1

It is n known that the cutting edges or,

razor blades are not perfectly smooth but that under a microscope the edges are seen to be made f up of smallteeth which are in alignment when the blade is sharpbut becomebent or out of alignment when the razor is used, thus causing theblade to become what is, commonly referred to as dull l by glue or by means of a tight fit. A rib or pro jection 6 of a size to fit the longitudinal opening in a safety'razor blade is provided along the middle of the strip 3.

A corresponding strip 3'. is fitted notches 4' in the middle of the edges of the end walls of the section 2 of the box andis held in place:

in a similar manner to that of strip 3. A slot I By thepresent invention razor blades are easily and quicklysharpened, or put into condition for use, withoutr'equiring any honing orwearing away of the blade by removal of metal by abra- .sion. The edges 'of the blades are smoothed and thus sharpened by rubbing contact with glass or other non-abrasive. material, although abrasive can be used or abrasive paste can be applied to the blade engaging surfaces of the below. t n a n Each block .ll] isalmost as long as theinside of is provided in the strip 3' to receive the rib 6.

A pair of duplicate blocks In, which are preferably, though not,necessarily,,made of glass,

are located in the sections I and 2 inside the strips 3 and 3". They are so shaped and locatedv that they serve assharpening members or 'de- 1 razor blades. as will be described vices for the box that is, made up of the sections I and .2,

sharpening elements to hone the edges whenever Incarrying out this invention the razor sharp-1 ening elements are installed in a holder or con-, tainerthat can be manipulated with one hand and both edges of the blade sharpened without" removing the blade from the sharpener.

block and is sufficiently narrower than the inside of this box to allow appreciable lateral movement in the box when the box isshaken laterally.

.A longitudinally extending centrally located j cutout portion l2 is provided inthe face of each These cut-out portions are wide 10. enough and deep enough to' prevent the blocks.

from striking the strips 3 or 3' when the blocks are moved laterally in the box.

. The invention willubeunderstood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which; l

Fig. 1 is aperspective View of the device;

[Fig.2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3is a section on an enlarged scalealong ,theline3---3ofFig.2;'w 4 1 i Fig. 4 is a plan view of one half of the :device;

Fig.6. is..a plan view of the other half of the device; g

Fig. Sis a-plan view, of one of the sharpening elements; Fig. '7 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 8 ma plan view of a. modification; and

Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. In the drawing, reference character I indicates one half or portion of a box, or container, for holding, a razor blade in position to be sharpened and for applying thesharpening elements to the blade for sharpening it. Reference character 2 indicates the other portion of the box. This box may be made of wood or any other suitable material that is rigid and will retain its shape. i l

A strip 3 rectangular in cross section is fitted in notches '4 in the middle of the upper edges of the end wallsof the section I of the box, and

may be fastened in place by small nails S or.

The portions of the blocks ID on opposite sides of the cut-out portions l2 aremade sloping from the. edges of the blocks (Fig. 3) to the cutut portions l2. These, sloping portions 13 are formedwith rounded parallel ribs [4 extending at an oblique angleto the side edgesof the blocks and; therefore, to the edges of ablade positioned in the; box. An angle of about 35? has been found to work well, althoughthis is not-critical. f Since the ribs I4 all slantinthe same direction when the blocks face in the same direction, as in Figs. 4 and 5, when the twosections of. the box are placed together with the blocks facing each other the ribs of the two blocks will then slant in opposite directions and the edges of a blade in the closed box after being rubbed on one side by ribs slanting in one direction will when the box is turned over be rubbed on the other side byribs slanting in the other direction. This results in a more effective smoothingof "the blade edges. i l

The operation. is as follows:

With the box open a razor blade I5 is placed uponthe cross piece 3 of the section I of the box to cause the ribB to extend through the slot I6 in the blade.

3' receives the rib. 5, thus keeping the two sec- The section 2 of the box is then put on so that the slot I in its cross piece tions of the box aligned and causing the sloping ribs I4 on the upper block ID to rest upon the edges of the blade I5. to and fro laterally a few times, that is, in a direction transverse of the edges ofthe blade l5, whereupon the ribs smooth or straighten out the bent or jagged teeth on both edges on that side of the blade. The wrist of the user is then turned, or the box is turned over in any other way, and the shaking operation is repeated to straighten out the teeth on the other side of the blade by means of the other block Hi as the ribs I 4 thereof then contact with the blade, thus finishing the sharpening of both edges of the blade.

The inward slope of the edges of the ribs It is preferably made to correspond to but slightly greater than the bevel at the edges of the razor blade, as indicated in Fig. 3, since the blades are flexible and'are slightly bent by the weight of the block I that. is at the: moment in use.

When it is desired to hone the-blade, a honing paste is applied to the ribs [4 ian'dthesame operation. is performed as that described above for sharpening the blade, whereupon honing takesplace, the edges-of the-bladebeing abraded. 'The paste can then be removed. from the ribs l4 and theusual. razor blade. sharpening can be effected.

Inthe'modification: shown in Figs. 8 and 9 reference character indicates .a bcX with its end walls cutout asshownat .21.. It is provided at the bottom: thereof with a-srupport 2 2 for a razor blade 24. This supportzhas. pins or projections 23. to extend. through. corresponding holes in the razor blade, although a strip may be used .tofittheurazor blade slot as described above.

111. operating. the device as shown in Figs. "8 and 9,.a; blade is placed upon the support *22 in the. box,xthesharpening block I'll is placed; on the blade. and the. box shaken sidewise afew times- The blockis thenremoved. and the blade is'turn'ed over, and the block put on. again- The box is then. shaken a few more times, whereupon the razor blade is ready to be used.

The material that has thus far: been found'to be most suitable for making: the blocks 'llliis topal glass; particular glass follows: the mold accurately without bubbles forming and thus providing. the desired smooth and: hard surface;

However, other glass having such properties: or

any-material that is very deri'se and hard: and

can have an accurate smooth surface imparted tocit may beused.

W'ha't is claimed isz i1. Asafety razor bladesharpe'ner; comprising a The box is then shaken 7 material.

container having means to position and-support a double edge razor blade in fixed position therein with its edge portions free, and two laterally reciprocab-le blade sharpening blocks in said container on opposite sides of the supported blade one free to rest on one. side of the blade when the container is in one position and the other in with its edge portions free, and two laterally 'reciprocable blade sharpening blocks in said container on oppositesides of the supported blade one free to rest on one side of the blade when the container is in one position and the other free to rest-on the other sideof. the blade when thecontainer is in a reversed apositiomeach: of said blocks having sloping diagonally ribbed blade-engaging. surfaces of smooth hard material.

3; A safety razor :blade sharpener comprising a container havingmeans to position. andzsupport a double edgearazor blade 'in-fixed positionzthero in with'itsedge portions tfree,v :and twolaterally reciprocablebladefsharpening blocks in said :container-on .opposite'rsides of the supported blade one free to rest on one side of the blade when the container is inone position and the other free tocrest on the other side of #thexblade when the containeriis in a reversed position/each of said blocks havingcslopingtandadiagonailly :ribbed bladeengaging. surfaces of vsmooth .hard: material, the ITibSfiOfLthe two blocks slopi'ngzin opposite directions' when. thellolocksanerin :the container and.

the containerfis closed.

4 .4. Axsafetyrazorbladeisharpener,comprising'a stripsl has blade-positioning meansprojecting:

therefrom, @and a. laterally ireoiprocable? :blade sharpening. block. .in. eachv or said. .box parts, one

of said .blocks beingiree to rest on: one side of a blade positioned in the closed container whenthe container is in one positiom and the/other being free-to rest 'onuthe other sideof the blade when Ithe'cont'ainer isinaa reversed pos'ition,-each ozf. vsaid. blockshaving :slopingr and diagonally ribbed blade-engaging surfaces"-oismooth-v hard .JosEPH A..1DOLL. 

